(Lily POV)

I stared at the ceiling of my room, thoughts running wildly through my head like animals that had just escaped the zoo.

The image of Ken catching me when I was flung off the Megalodon a couple days ago floated into my mind once more. It was the exact thing I didn't want to imagine right now.

I felt my face heat up, before I smacked it with my hands. No! You can't betray Erica!

Besides...Ken's an asshole...I can't fall for him...I can't.

I smothered my face into my pillow, trying to fall asleep. I needed to get these thoughts off my mind. My mind was in shambles and running in circles.

Erica...every time I think of her that warm feeling enters my heart. I love her. How could I not? After everything that she's done for me.

But Ken...the same warm feeling invades my heart every time I think of him as well...

Because of how we act together, sometimes I forget about how kind he really is. It doesn't help either that he hides it, unlike Erica.

Is that why they all fell for him? Irene, Iris, Erica, and even Yui. That amount of people falling in love with one person is unimaginable.

And yet, they love him so much. So much that they'd do anything for him. Just like how I'd do anything for Erica.

But Erica can't feel the same way. This whole time, she was a woman. And she isn't interested in women either...

She's interested in Ken. And the story she told us about the first time they met...I had lost from the moment I had fallen for her.

And I was so sad then. So depressed. I had even thought about...ending it all. A thought that shouldn't have crossed my mind.

I had wondered if she hated me. If that's why it wasn't possible to get together. It was soul-crushing when she told me we couldn't get together because it 'wasn't possible.'

Why were those thoughts vanished from my head again? I should've been much more sad over the rejection...

...

Ah...that's right...it was Ken, wasn't it? He invited me to the pool, and that's when Erica revealed she was a woman.

At that moment, it was almost as of a weight was lifted off of my shoulders. She didn't hate me. That wasn't why she rejected me. She just wasn't into girls.

Ken must have had it all planned out when he invited me.

Ken...

A warm feeling few in my chest, but overfilled with guilt I quickly doused the rising fire out. I can't...I can't...

I can't betray Erica...I said I'd love her forever...

I can't love Ken. I don't. There's no way...

I can't...become like her...

Suddenly I felt something wet drip down my cheeks. Touching them, I realized that I was crying.

Who am I kidding, I can't lie to myself. I love Ken...how long was it..?

Thinking back, he's always been there for me. That's what sparked my love for Erica, but Ken was also there since the beginning. Since when I was still bullied and ostracized.

And when Erica was fighting for my sake, she wasn't the only one fighting. Ken had thrown that usb to Iris, who claimed it had footage of what happened.

And I have feeling that it really did. I checked out where I was kicked that day, and there was a camera there.

Not to mention the increase in security after that day that is still in effect today. Ken really had gotten the footage.

He was fighting for my sake too.

He's always been there for me. While our friendship was different from mine and Erica's, I still knew I could always count on him.

That's why he helped me get over the rejection.

That's why he saved me when I was falling.

Ken's saved me so many times...

Ken is unorthodox. He's not like Erica who helps anyone she can see, but that doesn't mean that he's a bad person. He just takes a different approach.

It's like when he helped that girl with the pistol. He immediately went to help her, showcasing the kindness he usually hid.

I can't lie...I truly do love him...

And I love Erica too...

Why...?

Why does it have to be like this?

Tears dripped from my face, dropping onto the sheets of my bed like sprinkling raindrops. I love him...but I can't...

I'm such a terrible person...

Why am I like this...?

I can't...I can't...

My cries started to get louder, morphing from silent sobs to loud wails.

I hate myself!

What am I like this?!

They were all right...I am a bitch...I'm a terrible person...the horns on my head prove this...

A stray thought entered my mind. One that I shouldn't think about. One that I knew both Erica and Ken would hate...

I summoned Hassan, staring at my shaking hand which held it...

The doorbell suddenly rung, catching me by surprise. I quickly desummoned Hassan and wiped the tears from my face.

I hope whoever it is doesn't notice...

I sat up, getting out of my bed. I stumbled to the front door of my apartment, checking through the little hole to see who it is.

Erica?!

I slightly opened the door, peeking through to look at her. "H-hey...what are you doing here?" I nervously asked her.

"You said you were sick, so I wanted to come over to check on you." Erica smiled.

I love your kindness, but please leave me alone today!

"I-I'm fine..." I lied. "Y-you should go, I don't want to make you sick..."

Erica looked at me, before narrowing her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"W-what do you mean?" I nervously asked.

"I know you Lily. You're hiding something. What is it?" Erica replied.

"N-nothing!" I stated, my voice a higher pitch than I intended.

Erica shoved her foot into the doorway, catching me by surprise. Using that she quickly opened the door, letting herself in and closing the door behind her.

She looked at me, eyes widening as she saw my face. She quickly dragged me to my bed, before sitting me down on it and sitting next to me.

"What's wrong?" Erica softly asked once more.

"N-nothing's wrong..." I weakly replied.

We both knew that was a lie.

"You're eyes are red. You've been crying." Erica observed. "Please tell me what's wrong Lily...you're my friend. I want to help."

I felt the tears leak out once more, dripping down my cheeks as Erica watched.

"I-I'm sorry!" I cried.

Erica lightly grabbed me, placing my head on her shoulder so I could cry into it. Her shirt started to get wet, soaked by tears.

"I-I'm such a terrible person!" I sobbed. "I-it's supposed to be you!"

"Lily, what's going on?" She softly asked.

"I...I fell in love with Ken..." I revealed.

Erica looked at me with surprised eyes.

"I shouldn't have!" I screamed. "I loved you! I said I'd love you forever...but...I betrayed you...and even fell in love with the same man you love..."

"I'm terrible...I'm becoming just like her...a slut...a whore..." I sobbed. "Why am I like this?"

"Hey. Hey." Erica said, pushing my face to look at hers. "Don't say that."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"Don't say that about yourself. I don't know who you think you're becoming, but you're not like her. You're not a slut, nor a whore." Erica argued.

"But...but..." I tried to fight back, but Erica quickly shushed me.

"You're one of my best friends Lily. I don't want to hear you say that." Erica stated.

We sat in silence, as Erica held me. Erica really is so kind...

"My mother." I stated.

Erica looked at me, curious.

"My mother was a drunkard who would go out in the morning. Every day, she'd find new prey. A new man. Every day, sleeping with another man." I slowly stated.

"She said it was her duty as a Succubus. She said I was a mistake because I wanted to save myself for the man I'd love..." I finished.

"Lily...that's terrible." Muttered Erica. "You aren't a mistake."

"But...I'm becoming just like her...jumping from man to man..." I argued.

"You aren't. Because I'm a woman. That means Ken is the first man you've fallen for, doesn't it?" Erica replied.

"But I thought you were-" I tried to respond, but Erica quickly cut me off.

"That doesn't matter." Erica shook her head. "You didn't leave me after you found out, did you? You're still my best friend, and you're nothing like your mother."

We sat in silence once more as I soaked the words in. Was I really not like my mother? But I'm a filthy Succubus, just like her...

Erica's words rang through my mind, reminding me of how Erica didn't see me that way.

Would Ken see me that way?

...no, he wouldn't. I don't even need to think about that. Ken had always been by my side. Just like Erica, he hadn't cared that I was a Succubus.

Ken...

I really do love him...

"I love Ken." I stated.

Erica smiled. "I'm glad."

I nodded at her, smiling back. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Erica replied.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket. There's something I need to do. I called my 'employer', placing the phone to my ear.

"Hello? What is it?" Irene asked from the phone.

"Please let me join..." I stated. "...The Cult Of Loki."